Razor blade and holder therefor



Nov., 5, 1935. M. E. GREENHOUS 2,020,116

I RAZOR BLADE AND HbLDER THEREFOR Fi 1ed July 14, 1933' 2 sheets-sheet 1,Rvenzor, Em! lZGreenhouse,

Nov. 5,1935. M. E. GREENHOUSE 2,020,116

. RAZOR BLADE ANDHOLDER THEREFOR Filed July M, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Nov. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The object of the invention is to provide improvements both in razorblades per. se of the so-called safety razor type, and in improvedholders which are adapted to operatively support both said improvedblades and others which may have somewhat similar characteristics.

Another object more specifically isto provide a duplex blade, that isone having two cutting edges, in which the cutting edges are directedto'-' wards each other, rather than in opposite directions, with theresult that they are relativelyshieldedagainst many of'the contacts withex-- traneous objects, which at present tend to dull the edges of theblades now in use, besides protecting ones fingers from being cut asisalways possible with present-day constructions, since with theoutermost edges blunt or unsharpened the blade can be picked up andhandled at will without hesitancy.

A further object is to provide blades having said holder being such thatthe blade can beinsertedinto it longitudinally, and so constructed as topermit one internal edge to extend freely in operative position, whilethe other internal edge is withheld in a retracted and shieldedposition, said blade as a unit being positively positioned by directengagement with one of its blunt external edges engaging a portion ofsaid holder.

And a still further object is to provide a modified form of holder,which operatively supports the blade in a manner similar to that of saidfirst holder, but which is also characterized by a handle, whichnormally extends axially with respect to the generally cylindricalcharacter of the holder proper, and which handle when the device is notin use is adapted for disconnection from said holder and insertabletelescopically therein,

.in'order to fill as little s ace as ossible when V p p positioned inspaced relation with the adjacent being carried about from place toplace.

With the objects thus broadly stated, the in- 'vention comprises furtherdetails of construction and operation, which are hereinafter fullybrought out in the following description, when read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, in which Figs. 1 and 2 are plan views of twoforms of razor blades, characterized by internal or adjacent cuttingedges; Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are similar 5 views of as many different typesof blades, characterized by external or oppositely directed cuttingedges; Fig. 6 is an end elevation of imf proved holder for the use ofeither of the blades .shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 7 is a similar view'of a modified form of holder for operatively supporting the same, typeof blade; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of holder forw this same type of blade, but characterized by the fact that the handleextends substantially axially l5 with respect to the holder proper; Fig.9 is an enlarged transverse section of the holder of Fig. 8, showingablade operatively positioned therein; Fig. 10 is a fragmentaryperspective view of a still further modified form of holder for the sametype oi! blade as shown in Fig. 2, and also showing a blade separatedfrom but in alignment with such holder; Fig. 11 is a side elevation of amodified tom of razor holder, in the position for receiving the blade;Fig. 12 is a similar view adjusted to operative relation of its parts;Fig. 13 is a side elevation of a still further modified form of holderwith its parts in position for receiving the blade; and Fig. 14 is asimilar view or the same adjusted to operative relation of its parts.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is here shown an im proved blade comprising apair of parallel portions i and 2, between which there is preferably aslight space 3, while their adjacent or internal edges are sharpened toform razor cutting edges 4 and 5, and their oppositely directed edges 6are blunt or unsharpened. Said blunt edgev portions are of greaterextent than and project longitudinally beyond said sharpened edges, andare connected by relatively narrow, transversely flexible sections 1. Inthis manner there are provided parallel, longitudinally extendingtortional sections 8, of sufileient length to provide for the flexing ofthe body portions! and 2 independently of each other, and in such mannerthat the sharpened edges will not be bent orfiexed out of rectilinearshape. The flexible connecting sections I are here shown as being .endsof the sharpened body portions of the blade, but such is not essential,as they may if desired be in close juxtaposition. In any case, thetortiimal sections 8 are as long as feasible, and

for this purpose extend partially to the rear of the cutting edges 4 and5.

Referring to Fig. 2, the body portions 9, characterized by the adjacentsharpened cutting edges l0 and I0 are, connected by tortional sectionsII at one end only of a single transversely flexible connecting sectionl2, respectively similar to the tortional sections 8 and connecting thesections 1 of Fig. l. The operation and use of this blade is similar tothat of Fig. 1, except that this latter type permits of its beinginserted longitudinally into a holder, whereas the first type must beplaced or inserted transversely into a holder,

whether substantially in the plane of the blade itself, or angularlywith respect to such plane.

Referring to Fig. 3, a blade is shown comprising a sectionaltransversely flexible section I3, which may be provided with an apertureI4, if desired, for engagement with a pin or lug such as is carried bymany types of blade holders, while said section at its opposite endsmerges into parallel, longitudinally extending body portions IS, theoppositely extending edges l6 of which are sharpened, while said bodyportions extend upon opposite sides of said flexible section l3, toprovide pairs of wing sections l1 and i8 respectively, each sharpenededge 16 extending substantially the full length of the body portion andadjacent to the wing sections of which it forms a part.

The blade shown in Fig. 4 is quite similar in contour to that of Fig. 2,except that it provides oppositely directed cutting edges, carried byparalle l body portions 20, which are connected thru tortional sections2| with a transversely extending flexible section 22. This blade alsolike that of Fig. 2 may be inserted longitudinally in certain types ofholders, while the blade shown in Fig. 5 is more closely similar to thatof Fig. 1, except that it provides oppositely directed cutting edges 23,carried by body portions 24, which in turn are connected to thetortional sections 25 with oppositively positionedtransversely extendingflexible sections 26.

Referring now to Fig. 6 a holder is shown comprising angularly extendingwing sections 21 and 28, connected together at least at one point bymeans of an enlarged integral lug 29, provided with a threaded bore 30,into and thru which normally extends the threaded reduced end portion ofa handle 3|. Said wing sections are respectively providedpreferablythroughout their entire length with relatively deep yet narrow slots 32and 33, adapted to receive in suitable sliding,

engagement the oppositely positioned body portions I and 2 of a blade ofthe'type shown in Fig.

1, or the body portion 9 of a blade of the type shown in Fig. 2, whilethe threaded portion of the handle 3| is in slightly withdrawn position.Either type of blade may thus be slidably inserted longitudinally insaid slots 32 and 33, which are angularly disposed with respect to eachother; in such transverse position that the rearwardly positioned bluntedge of the blade bears directly against a lug 34, forming a support-toprevent further transverse movement of the blade in that direction.

With the blade in this position, the cutting edge ID will extend freelybeyond the plane 35 (or the slightly spaced planes) which defines thelimit of the outer sides or walls of said wing sections, the oppositecutting edge It! being maintained within the slot 32 and shielded by theouter wall of the adjacent wing section 21. After the blade has beenplaced in this operative position, if its tension against the adjacentsurfaces of the holder, due to the flexing of the blade, is notconsidered suflicient to maintain it in operative position while in use,it may be more positively held in operative position by providing a 5slightly longer threaded portion of said handle, and thus screwing theend of this threaded portion firmly against the deflected body portion 9of the blade, as shown in Fig. 6. When the operative edge becomes dullthru use, it is obvious that 10' the blade may be released, ifnecessary, by first loosening the handle and sliding said bladelongitudinally outwardly from within the slots 32 and 33, after whichthe blade may be reversed and the cutting edge l0 brought into extended1.5 operative position, while the cutting edge I0 is thereafter retainedin inoperative or shielded position.

The holder 31 shown in Fig. '7 is in general similar to that in Fig. 6,except that in design it 20 is not so angular, and isfpreferablydesigned to accommodate a relatively'j'narrower blade 36 than the holderof Fig. 6 is adapted to support. This last-named holder, instead ofbeing provided with a stop such as the lug 34 of Fig. 4, provides for2.; the transverse adjustment and positioning of the blade, the. desiredposition being solely maintained by said blade being engaged and clampedby the reduced threaded end portion 38 of the handle 33. Also, byrelatively abbreviating the an outer wall 3! of the slot 31 receivingthe inactive portion of the blade, so that substantially only the freeunsharpened edge 31 of said inactive portion is engaged and held out ofalignment with the active portion, the blades of both 35 of Figs. 1 and2 may be used, the blade in either case being inserted transversely intothe opposite slot 31, flexed into said slot 31" until the edge 31 issafely secured, and the handle tightened against said active portion ofthe blade, or said 40 active portion may rest against a stop or lug,such I v as the stop 34 in Fig. 6.

' order to flush the same and assist in cleansing, by

removing therefrom all trace of cream, lather, hair, or the like, theopposite end of said holder being open throughout its full transverseextent. structurally this holder is cut longitudinally so as to providea flattened inwardly directed section 45, the free edge portion of whichis reversely folded to provide a lip 46, overlapping and ad- 50 jacentto which is positioned the opposite free edge portion 41 of the holder,which last-named portion is preferably continuous and unbroken, whilethe lip is toothed so as to provide a guard 43. Either of the blades ofFigs. 1 and 2 may be used 55 in this holder, as they vmay be insertedtherein either transversely or longitudinally. In either case they arepositioned transversely against a suitable pocket or lug 49, while theinoperative portion 50 of said blade lies flat against the outer 10surface of the flattened section 45, and the operative edge portion 5|is deflected angularly by the lip 46, and extends between said lip andthe adjacent edge portion 41. The blade may be withdrawn from thisholder in the opposite dlrec- 7 7 blade are slidably slots to provideflanges, which flanges by being tion to that by which it is inserted forreplacement or reversal of the position as desired, while the handle 43may be disconnected and inserted longitudinally in the opposite end of aholder,-

as indicated by the dot'and dash lines 52. g V Refen-ing to Fig. 10, theblade of Fig. 2 is shown both, as being operatively positioned within aholder comprising a further modification of the invention, and inalignment with said holder to clearly illustrate the method by whichthey are brought into operative union or cooperation.

This holder comprises a body portion 53, in cross section of irregularshape. Viewed in cross section, this holder embodies a pair ofoppositely directed, substantially arcuate slots 54, in which thelaterally opposite body portions 9 of said positioned longitudinally, sothat the cutting edges l0 and Ill of the blade.extend in oppositelydirected operative positions.

The outer wall 55 of each of said slots comprises a means for retainingthe flexible portions of the blade in operative position, while thepposite walls of said slots, adjacent to the central portion of saidholder are deflected abruptly away from alignment with the major portionof said serrated provide oppositely directed toothed guards 55 adjacentto but spaced from the respecv tive cutting edges of the blade.

The flexible connecting portion I! of the blade mayif desired enter a'slot in the opposite or free end-portion of said holder, or maypreferably extend freely therefrom, in order to provide afinger-engaging means forremoving the blade from said holder, forresharpening and/or replacement.

As the handle for said holder does not enter into the invention, thesame is merely suggested 7 by dot and dash lines 51, it being understoodthat may be of any shape, size, type or.

construction as desired.

Referringto Figs. 11 and 12, the modified form of holder here showncomprises a body portion 60, which may but need not be open in skeletonform as indicated at 6|. Thisbody portion is provided with apreferablyfiat surface 82, beyond ;which in one direction there isintegrally connected with said which with said body portion a parallelwall 63, body portion provides a slot or recesss i4, and also forms aguard for a razor.

blade 55 of either of thetypes shown in Figs. 1 and 2, said bladeextending freely from'said slot or recess.

, Pivotally mounted to-said body portion byany suitable means as at orother suitable location is a wing 61 having a preferably fiat surface58, and which is also provided with'an integrally connected wall 69,which with said wing forms a slot or space II, into which the laterallyopis inserted longitudinally into said slots 64 and shown in Fig. 11.

'61, when in the same plane or alignment, as Beyond this pivotalsupportsaid wing is provided with a suitably shaped lever arm II, which extendsinto the and is preferably directly engaged by the 'extremity of thethreaded end portion 12 of a handle l3, which enters and is in threadedengagement with a bore 14 in said body portion after a blade is insertedinto this type of holder, as hereinbefore mentioned, rotation of saidhandle operates to oseillate'the lever 'arrn H inwardly, so that thewing 51 is shifted singularly about its pivotal support, with the resultthat the inactive lateral portion of the blade 65 is flexed into theposition body portion 60,

edge I6 of the-active portion of the blade 65 extending freely for'thepurposeofshiftinginthe usual manner. In order to remove this blade forresharpening or replacement, the handle is rotated in the reversedirection, permitting the lever H to return to the position shown inFig. 11, and the slot Ill into alignment with the slot 64, so that saidblade can be readily removed therefrom. While the resiliency of theblade itself is suflicient for 10 all practical purposes to firmlyretain it in fixed position within said holder during the act ofshaving, or other usefor which said blade may be adapted, if desired thefree end of said lever 'H may be made to directly engage the under- 15surface of the active portion of said blade, as

' rear edge portions of which rise integral exten- 2 sions 8| and 82,which together define a substantially rectangular interior space 83, thefourth side of said space being largely spanned by the inwardly directedand outwardly curved flanges Bl and 85 respectively. The curvature ofsaid last- 30 named flange is greater than that of the former, while thefree edge portion of said last-named flange extends outwardly fartherthan the corresponding edge portion of said first-mentioned flange. 35The plate is preferably provided with an angularlydirected boss 86,thru..which extends a bore 8'|,'within which is positioned in threadedengagement the threaded end portion 88 of a handle 89. Within the space83, and adapted to &0 be in contact with said end portion 88 of saidhandle is a roughly triangular flexing member 90, comprising a pair ofupwardly directed preferably curved surfaces ill and 92, substantiallycorresponding in curvature with the inner sur- (5 blade enters, as theblade faces of the flanges 80 and respectively, said member beingshiftable within said holder from the position shown in Fig. 13 into theposition shown in Fig. 14. When in said first position, it

is possible to insert. a blade 93, of such types as 50 those shown inFigs. 1 and 2 longitudinally into said space 83, after which rotation ofsaid handle forces said flexing member upwardly against said blade insuch a manner that the active edge portion 94 of saidblade is broughtinto operative 55 position freely extending beyond the adjacent edgeportion of the guard flange 85, while the inactive edge portion 95 isflexed into either a completely shielded position, or into a positionedge portion of the flange 84, as shown in Fig. 14,

and in which position of said blade the connecting endsection orsections 96 remain in their initially rectilinear position upon thelaterally opposite ends of said flexing member (one only of us said endsections being shown in Fig. 14, to represent either of the end sections1 of Fig. 1, or the end sections l2 shown in Fig. 2.

In order to remove said blade for resharpening or replacement, it isonly necessary to rotate the 70 handle 39 in reverse direction, in orderto again release the flexing member into the position shown in Fig. 13,and thereby permit the straightened blade to be manually removed fromthe position indicated at 98, in said Fig. 13.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific formswithout departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and Itherefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respectsas illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to theaccompanying claim ratherthan to the foregoing description to indicatethe scope of the invention.

A safety razor blade comprising a single sheet 01 flexible metal, amedially arranged slot extending longitudinally of the blade butterminating short or the-ends, a transversely extending slot at each endof said longitudinal slot, thereby forming a pair of inwardly extendingopposed tongues capable of being flexed out of the normal plane of theblade and the adjacent edges of said tongues being sharpened.

MARTIN E. GREENHOUSE.

